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ABOUT US

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Our Mission: Leading the community to keep Santa Fe clean, green and beautiful.

Our Vision: A community of inspired, active and passionate stewards of our beautiful city.

We are a nonprofit volunteer program that partners with the City of Santa Fe’s Environmental Services Division on environmental education, litter awareness and prevention and beautification programs. Our projects include the City of Santa Fe Welcome Sign, annual Great American Cleanup and Toss No Mas Cleanup days, the Adopt-a-Median program to landscape city medians, the partnership with the MASTER’s Program Early College Charter High School, the Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (No Ifs, Ands, or Butts!), rain garden installations, and much more!

Meet the Board of Directors

Chris McLarry
Chairman

Originally from Dallas Texas, Chris moved to Santa Fe in 1989. After college he opened a small gallery in Dallas selling arts and crafts from New Mexico. After 3 years, he moved to Santa Fe to direct a gallery owned by a renowned sculptor. Chris opened McLarry Fine Art at 225 Canyon Road 25 years ago, and the gallery has since become one of most prominent galleries in Santa Fe. He enjoys all the outdoor activities Santa Fe has to offer.

Carol Branch
Executive Director

Carol J. Branch is Executive Director of Keep Santa Fe Beautiful (KSFB) and a longtime leader and contributor in community service-related programs and projects throughout New Mexico. Carol grew up in Santa Fe and returned home 10 years ago to serve the County as Volunteer Coordinator for the Community Services Department, improving hiking and biking trails and beautifying public lands with the help of many volunteers.  Carol served as a KSFB board member for five years before becoming KSFB’s executive director and the Environmental Services Division’s Environmental Programs Manager.

Linda Duran
Education Outreach Chair

Linda is a Spanish native who was born and raised into the culture of Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has continued her devotion to her hometown and state by earning her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from New Mexico State University and continuing to professionally serve children in New Mexico Schools for 35 years. She believes that KSFB’s mission statement: Leading the community to keep Santa Fe Green, clean and beautiful will be accomplished by educating our youth to develop personal responsibility toward caring for our public lands and encouraging them to take pride in our community to keep Santa Fe clean and sustainable for generations to come. Linda has raised 4 successful children who are all NM college graduates. Viva Santa Fe.

Jody LeFevers
Youth Outreach Coordinator

Jody teaches philosophy, U.S. Government, and economics at The MASTER’s Program in Santa Fe. He has been teaching for most of his professional life. Jody holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts degree from St. John’s College and a M.Ed. from Eastern New Mexico University. His undergraduate work was focused in economics and history. When not reading and talking with students, Jody can be found running or mountain biking on the trails around Santa Fe or riding his motorcycle around Northern New Mexico.

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Jennifer Bemis
Member at Large

Jennifer has lived in Santa Fe on and off for the last 15 years.  She has volunteered for many community organizations and  was a volunteer firefighter/EMT. She is currently the president of the Ladies Golf Association at Marty Sanchez.

 

She enjoys being outdoors and  helps with cleaning up some of the medians adopted by KSFB.

 

She looks forward to partnering with KSFB as a board member to continue the good work we do !

 Miquela Gonzales
Community Outreach Chair

Karen Cardenas Reynolds
Special Events Chair

Miquela Gonzales was born and raised in Santa Fe, she retired from the Santa Fe Police Department after 27 years of service as a Criminal Information Analyst. She is a current member and past board member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Her hobbies are bowling in a league, fishing, watching and attending sporting events, and watching movies. Miquela serves as the Community Outreach Chair for Keep Santa Fe beautiful. As a Crime Analyst she dealt with many neighborhoods and is looking to reconnect with them to ensure our amazing city stays beautiful.

Karen (Kaye) Cardenas Reynolds is a native Santa Fean. She is retired from a career as a Manager in State Government, then 17 years as West Coast Marketing Director of WineWeb.com, and also a past President and board member of the Santa Fe St. Vincent de Paul Society. Kaye’s varied education, life and business experience are an asset to the KSFB board. Kaye’s passions include gardening, painting, cooking, traveling, pickleball and volunteer Senior Olympics Events planner and yearly participant.

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Michael Galya
Member at Large

Michael Galya grew up in Albuquerque, where he attended the Albuquerque Academy. After completing a degree in Communications and Journalism at the UConn, Michael entered a career in art, which he has continued for 20 years. Michael has experience as the Director of several galleries, the Director of Enrollment at the College of Santa Fe, and owner operator of his own gallery, Luca decor. In addition to being a local business owner, Michael also has a child enrolled in the Santa Fe Public School system, and a homeowner within the historic district. Michael cares passionately about improving Santa Fe, for his daughter and future generations of Santa Feans.

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Nestor Lopez
Vice Chairman

Nestor started his banking career as a part time teller.  He became Branch Manager  with Guadalupe Credit Union.  He moved to Nusenda Credit Union  to become an Office Manager.  He joined the management team at Zia Credit Union where he was an AVP Sr. Branch Manager in Santa Fe, NM.  He returned to Nusenda Credit Union as the Office Manager for the Southside Branch.

 

He is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico and is fluent in Spanish and English. He appreciates spending time at home and is a fitness enthusiastic.  He enjoys running and relaxing with family. He loves exploring the beautiful city of Santa Fe and traveling the world whenever the opportunity arises. He enjoys meeting new people and looks forward to the opportunity to help other with keeping Santa Fe Beautiful. 

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Ruby Estrada
Member at Large

My name is Ruby Estrada and as a multi-generational Native New Mexican, I joined the Board of Keep Santa Fe Beautiful to give back to my community -- especially in the area of environmental stewardship.

 

I believe in leading by example and want our youth to also be passionate about giving back to the very planet that provides for our existence.

 

It is my honor to be able to give back in the capacity of such a worthy cause.

 

Go KSFB! We believe community efforts are collectively all our responsibility!

KSFB Staff

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Michelle Romero-Babcock
ESD Program Coordinator

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Rebecca Aubin
ESD Program Coordinator

Ex-Officio Board Members:

Vacant, SF Solid Waste Management Agency
Vacant, Santa Fe County
Vacant, NM Clean & Beautiful

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